Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki on Monday, January 30, launched a new police unit known as the Water Protection Unit (WPU) that is meant to provide security to crucial water facilities across the country.
The newly formed unit under the Administration Police will include officers from Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit (CIPU), who will address emerging security concerns.
Kindiki stated that the Government had categorized and gazetted all underwater and water infrastructure as critical, and placed them under the CIPU.
A brief from the Ministry of Interior released on Monday, January 30 stated that the move came as a result of an identified need to avert criminal activities affecting critical water infrastructure.
The Ministry noted that it was making huge losses because of increased cases of vandalism, illegal connections, and corruption across the country.
“Upon deliberation by the Ministry of Water and the National Police Service (NPS), a need was identified to provide armed security and protection to critical water facilities,”
“You would not want to imagine what could happen to the people of Kenya if people with criminal intent were able to access water reservoirs, dams, and the entire infrastructure that brings water to our towns," Kindiki stated.
On vandalism, the water Principal Secretary (PS) Paul Rono stated that the country lost Ksh10.6 billion in water revenue, because of include non-payment of bills and destruction of infrastructure.
The unit will be tasked with protecting and safeguarding National Government infrastructures and vital installations.
Moreover, the Deputy Inspector General of police Noor Gabow indicated that the number of officers who will be sent to the different locations across the country under the new unit would depend on the need.
“And just like other police units within the National police service, it will be headed by a commandant,” Gabow stated.
The unit was launched at Harambee House in Nairobi with the Cabinet Secretary of Water Alice Wahome in attendance.
The new Administration Police structure included the Critical Infrastructure Protection Unit (CIPU) officers are trained to protect critical infrastructures such as power lines, fiber optic cables, highways, and data centers from the national to the sub-county level.
Other special units under the Administration Police include the Boarder Police Unit, the Rapid Deployment Unit, the Anti-Stock Theft Unit, and the Security of Government Buildings & VIP Protection Unit.
